Theodor klinghammer



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T. KLINGHAMMER. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR CLOSING VESSELS. 036.

Patented Jan. 2

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surface of the diaphragm, and Fig. 5 is a ver- 'UNITED STATES rrrcni.

PATENT METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR CLOSING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letter 3 Patent No. 512,036, dated January2, 18941. Application filed December 31, 1892. Serial No. 456,933. (NomodeLl Patented in Germany April 9, 1891. N

To aZZ whom it mag concern: v

Be it known that I, THEODOR KLINGHAM- MER, a subject of-the Emperor ofGermany, and aresident of Speyer, in the Kingdom of Prussla and Empireof Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 111Methods of and Means for Closing Vessels, (for which I have obtainedLetters Patent in Germany, dated April 9, 1891, No. 64,133,) of wh1chthe following is a specification. This invention relates to an improveddevice for closing vessels of all kinds, it being adapted for closingthe faucet holes of kegs, sheet metal cans, &c.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap closingdevice which is absolutely tight and which will yield and becomedisplaced on the insertion of afaucet.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front-view of myimproved closlng device, shown as applied to the bushing of a keg. Fig.2 is a vertical central section of the same, on line 2 2 of Fig. 1,showing the closing diaphragm in position before it is dr1ven in. Figs.3 and 4c are also vertical central sections of the closing device, shownas driven intoits seat in the bushing, the diaphragm of one bushing,being provided with a separate packing while the diaphragm of the otherbushing is provided with a packing whlch is applied permanently to theinner tical transverse section, showing the closing dlaphragm ready tobe driven into the keg by the faucet.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

Referring to the drawings, a represents a metallic bushing, which isprovided with an exterior screw-thread by which the same is screwed intothe faucet-hole of a beer or other keg. Thebushingaisprovided with aninte: rior opening having an internal shoulder a and an interiorgroove 1) adjacent to the inner shoulder c on the outer side thereof. Asheet metal convexo-concavo diaphragm b of a diameter equal or nearly sowith the diameter of the inner part of the bushing at the groove 1), isinserted into the bushing'until it rests on the shoulder c, and is thendriven in by a suitable tool until it is collapsed and the middleportion of the diaphragm assumes a concave shape, while thecircumference is forced in an outward direction and retained by thegroove so as to close tightly the bushing a. Forproducingthehermeticalclosingof thediaphragm d, a packing preferably in the form of a disk 6of'suitable textile fabric which is preferably saturated with grease orother suitable substance is employed. As the convexity of the diaphragmbefore it is driven into its seat is greater than the concavity of thesame after it is driven in, it follows that it has spread sufficientlyto close the bushing in a very tight and reliable manner and as theconcave side is reversed in form, said packing disk is caused to bestretched over its as-' sumed convex form and it is thereby firmlysecured in the groove. It is also capable of resisting a considerableinterior pressure, so that it is well adapted for vessels in which aninterior pressure has to be sustained.

In tapping the keg, a conical rubber sleeve 9 is first inserted into thebushing a, the fancet being then inserted into said sleeve and driven inso that the inner end of the faucet forces the metallic diaphragm intothe interior of the keg. During the driving in of the faucet the conicalrubber sleeve produces the tight fitting of the faucet to the bushing,so as to prevent any escape of fluid. The shape of the closingdiaphragm, as well as of the grooves into which the same is driven, canbe varied, also different kinds of packing material can be used, suchas, for instance, an elastic ring whichis placed either around thecircumference of the diaphragm or inserted into the groove of thebushing. The metallic diaphragm can also be faced with lead, soft rubberor other suitable soft material, as shown in Fig. 4, in which case thisfacing produces a tight fit at the circumference of the diaphragm anddispenses then with any otherpacking material. The diaphragm may beprovided with radial corrugations or ribs, or may be pressed intosuitable form so that it possesses, even when made of thin mate rial,considerable resistance, which enables it to be more easily driven intothe groove of the bushing. In addition to the diaphragm,

the bushing can be closed by a cork-stopper or plug in front of thediaphragm, which is advisable when the kegs have to be shipped The diskbeing in to considerable distances.

a continuous curve, when pressure is applied to the center thereof theforce is distributed along the curve to the extremity or edge of thedisk and expands the latter tightly into the groove.

Besides its application to the bushings of the faucet-holes of kegs, theclosing device can also be used for other vessels, such as sheet metalcans and the like, in which the vessel has to be provided with a groovedrim into which the diaphragm which forms the closing device isinsertedinto position in the manner described, in connection with asuitable packing material. a

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to eifect the closure ofa faucet-hole bushing by means of a diaphragm of dishedform, that is tosay by one in the shape of a disk having an annular flaring flange, theedge of said flange being entered into an internal annular groove of thebushing, and do got; therefore claim that construction broadly;

Having thus described my invention, what I do claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The method of closinga tube which consists in placing a convexoconcave disk against a shoulder in said tube, the convex surface'of thedisk being on the outer face thereof, and then subjecting said disk topressure until it is reversed into concavoconvex shape, the convexsurface being then on its inner face and the periphery of said diskbeing set in said tube, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a tube provided with two adjacent internalshoulders and with an interior groove between said shoulders, thediameter of the bore of the outer shoulder being greater than the boreof the inner shoulder, and a closure consisting of a concavo-convexdiaphragm expanded into said groove between said shoulders and havingits convex surface on its inner side, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a tube provided with two adjacent internalshoulders and with an interior groove between said shoulders, the boreof the outer shoulder being larger than that of the inner, and a closureconsisting of a concavo-convex diaphragm and a packing disk of largerdiameter than said diaphragm and overlapping the edge thereof, saiddiaphragm and disk being expanded into said groove between saidshoulders and having their convex surfaces on their inner sides,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention Ihavesigned myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODOR KLINGHAMMER.

Witnesses:

ALVIN KOCH, JULIUS LISSTENBERGER.

